When people think of the word “work,” a creative space perfect for cultivating ideas isn’t exactly what comes to mind. But really great startups tend to do one thing well, and that’s innovate.

I wanted to know how successful founders make sure creative juices are always flowing (even if their office or local coffee shop isn’t necessarily the next Googleplex). So I asked 8 entrepreneurs the following question:

Where do your best ideas come from? And how do you cultivate a culture where inventing new things is part of “work”?

Below are their favorite tips and tricks for inspiring their team to constantly generate ideas.

1. Question assumptions to improve
For us, the best ideas come from examining how to maximize each facet of our business. In salons, only 7 percent of people purchase hair products. That is an average that doesn’t change and is generally accepted. Why? What about the other potential 93 percent of customers? They’re buying the products somewhere else. How do we get them to buy them in a salon where the recommendations are personalized?

It was this kind of early questioning in our own salon business, Birds Barbershop, that led to the creation of our hair product brand, Verb Products.

Everything I have ever worked on has stemmed from a problem I’ve had. I think that if you try and find ways to make your own life better, then chances are you will come up with something that could make other people’s lives better, too.

If you look at most of the successful companies today, they all fix or make a particular problem better.

Our best ideas come from our employees. We have a monthly pitch competition to elicit the best ideas. Everyone in the company pitches ideas, and the winner gets an award, such as a gift card (plus the inherent bragging rights).

The competition makes everyone more conscious of what systems and processes work. Some of our best ideas have come from encouraging everyone in our company to identify opportunities to build technology that could make us more efficient and more effective.

As a God-fearing person, my best ideas come to me when I am most humble and thankful for my success. Cultivating a culture that breeds successful ideas is much easier to do than most people think. Three ingredients are needed to do so: healthy snacks, a Ping-Pong table and the ability to hear everyone’s opinion.

If someone feels like he can make a difference and that his voice will be heard, then you have cultivated a happy, healthy and creative work environment.